The battle of Gorizia (6-17 August 1916) : a turning point in Italy's war

Abstract

The battle of Gorizia, also known as the sixth battle of the Isonzo, was fought on 2-17 August 1916. The Italian Chief of Staff, Luigi Cadorna, managed to conquer (or “liberate”, according to the Italian narration of Italy’s participation to the Great War) the first city in Austro-Hungarian territory. It proved a turning point in Italy’s war, for it boosted Italian morale – shaken by earlier bloody failures – and revalidated the war amongst the Italian public. It also strengthened Italy’s reputation vis a vis its allies of the Triple Entente – Britain, France and Russia – largely disappointed, up to that moment, with Italy’s contribution to the common cause; as a result, Cadorna’s victory paved the way for more effective inter-allied co-operation. However, it proved the single noteworthy success of the Isonzo campaign. This essay analyses the peculiarities of the battle of Gorizia, focusing on how victory was possible, and how it contributed to re-shape the Italian participation to the First World War.